You, Me & Tuscany ★★★

Released: 10 April 2026

Director: Kat Coiro

Starring: Halle Bailey, Rege-Jean Page

You, Me & Tuscany has all the ingredients for a great romantic comedy. Producer Will Packer has had successes with similar films such as Girls’ Trip and Think Like a Man, while director Kat Coiro’s last film, J-Lo rom-com Marry Me, received positive reviews despite its release being heavily affected by COVID. Leading lady Halle Bailey brings charm to the screen while former Bridgerton star Regé-Jean Page adds a touch of spice. When mixed together, it is a comfort watch on a plate.

After being fired from her latest housesitting gig, young cook Anna (Bailey) meets Matteo (Lorenzo de Moor) in a New York bar. Inspired by his home town, where he owns a vast but empty Tuscan villa, she impulsively decides to travel to Italy to stay at his unattended home and live out her dreams. But upon arrival, she is confused for Matteo’s fiancée by his family, a growing problem when she also develops feelings for Matteo’s attractive cousin Michael (Page).

The film’s appeal is amped up by its casting, who seem to be having a ball. Bailey is endearing as the lost-in-life Anna, whose winning smile hides her character’s hurt and confusion. She shares a winning chemistry with Page, who, after a string of supporting roles in The Grey Man and Black Bag to name a few, finally leans towards his star power as the suave love interest.

But with the focus on the sparks between Anna and Michael, the film keeps the supporting characters in the background, regardless of the humour and heart they bring to the table. Taxi driver Lorenzo (Marco Calvani) offers light relief as his enthusiasm for Anna’s plight feeds his romantic side. Meanwhile, Italian actress Isabella Ferrari grounds the film’s subtle poignancy as Matteo’s mother Gabriella, who is thrilled to not only have a new family member but a reason for her estranged son to reunite with his parents. This character imbalance does cause the film to falter, as the occasional shift from the protagonists to check in with the supporting roles dents its momentum.

Yet the film offers an emotional slant as our heroine’s quest for personal stability lingers in the background. Anna has been lost since her mother’s passing, and her passion for cooking has been largely overshadowed by a rich and luxurious (yet fake) persona cultivated on social media through her house-sitting jobs. The fact that she is facing the dilemma of being falsely engaged may seem comically cliché,  but the empathy of the personal connections she makes along the way – ranging from Lorenzo and Matteo’s free-spirited sister Francesca (Stella Pecollo) – exacerbates her fear of losing the closest thing she has had to a family. 

Narrative-wise, You, Me & Tuscany doesn’t reinvent the wheel when it comes to rom-coms. Borrowing elements from Under the Tuscan Sun and While You Were Sleeping, Ryan Engle’s screenplay is formulaic, with its misunderstandings, conflicted feelings, and moments full of cheesiness and awkward yearning. Then audiences could almost argue that despite its familiarity, how You, Me & Tuscany rises above to present warmth and cosiness for its audience. The film’s gentle combination of comedy and sentimentality complements cinematographer Danny Ruhlmann’s eye-pleasing focus on Tuscan landscapes and rustic architecture. The result is undeniably gorgeous, so it is easy to fall for Anna’s fantasy and the appeal of Coiro’s latest feature.

Aside from its tonal inconsistencies, You, Me & Tuscany is a cinematic ray of sunshine with winning performances from Bailey and Page. Breaking through a dry rom-com spell, it is a heartwarming watch that oozes charm.